The Nether

The Nether is a virtual wonderland that provides total sensory immersion. Just log in, choose an identity and indulge your every desire. But when a young detective uncovers a disturbing brand of entertainment, she triggers an interrogation into the darkest corners of the imagination.

The Nether is a virtual wonderland that provides total sensory immersion. Just log in, choose an identity and indulge your every desire. But when a young detective uncovers a disturbing brand of entertainment, she triggers an interrogation into the darkest corners of the imagination. Winner of the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, The Nether is both a serpentine crime drama and haunting sci-fi thriller that explores the consequences of living out our private dreams.

REVIEWS

"As a parable for where we’re headed on that big old highway in the digital sky, The Nether exerts a viselike grip, while taking you down avenues of thought you probably haven’t traveled yet." - The New York Times, Read More

"The Nether is a gripping and deeply disconcerting look at the Internet and its role in one of the most disturbing issues of our times." - Telegraph, Read More

"‘The Nether is an emotional detective story first and foremost." - Time Out London, Read More

"Haley has taken as her subject several of the most fearsome betes noires of our age: paedophilia, the internet’s sinister imaginative power, and the symbiotic relationship between the two." - The Guardian, Read More

The Nether received its world premiere at the Center Theatre Group in LA in 2013, under the direction of Neel Keller. The play was subsequently produced in 2014 by the Royal Court Theatre and Headlong in London, directed by Jeremy Herrin. This production ran on the West End in 2015 at the Duke of York's Theatre. Also in 2015, The Nether received its New York City premiere by MCC at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, directed by Anne Kauffmann.

Jennifer Haley is a playwright whose work delves into ethics in virtual reality and the impact of technology on our human relationships, identity, and desire. She won the 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, a Los Angeles Ovation Award and the Francesca Primus Prize for her play, The Nether, which premiered at Center Theatre Group and was subsequently produced at The Royal Court Theatre with Headlong ... view full profile

Two years ago I had the privilege to see the debut of this work. It was infinitely fascinating. This is a future in which people can actually choose to live out their lives on the Web (now called the Nether) hooked up to machines that keep their bodies breathing and heart beating, but no longer of this world. It is the ultimate virtual reality. When Samuel French let me know they now had the script, I sent in my order asap. How great to be able to renew my memories of the play. The plot takes many different twists before revealing all of its surprises. With script in hand, now I can go back the beginning to spot the clues that let me see what was coming.